Rail Sector Seeks GHG ‘Surcharge’ For Transportation Funding Overhaul

Seeking a competitive advantage over road-based carriers, railroad companies are urging Congress to overhaul its method of paying for surface transportation projects, including by eventually setting fees based on vehicle miles traveled (VMT) as well as vehicle size and a new greenhouse gas “emissions surcharge.” Such a shift would help combat climate change, the rail sector argues, by encouraging adoption of more-efficient trucks and other vehicles, while also spurring additional freight to be shipped via railroads, which the industry says...